Construction and demolition waste (C&DW) were generated in 2016, making it the largest waste stream in the EU by weight. Construction and demolition are defined as a priority area in the EU according to the Circular Economy Action Plan (EC 2015) for closing the loop. The revised Waste Framework Directive sets a mandatory target for its recovery of 70 percent by 2020. Despite high recovery rates, however, C&DW is often downcycled. This report includes a short review of the current status of C&DW management in the EU as a background.

In a circular economy, raw materials are not taken out of their cycles but remain in the economy for as long as possible through their efficient and smart use. Their value is preserved by optimizing reuse or high-grade recycling. In the built environment, this means buildings and construction elements are designed to be easily adaptable and/or dismantlable with hardly any being demolished. Building materials or building elements should be quickly and efficiently recovered, resulting in high-quality materials remaining in a closed loop. Furthermore, it is important to broaden the scope of action which can influence waste management to cover other stages of the lifecycle of buildings and other structures. Circular economy-inspired action made in the early stages of a building’s lifecycle may affect the management of the building’s waste in a profound way.

To identify potential circular economy action during the whole lifecycle of construction products from design to end of life. A set of criteria for assessing the effect of selected circular economy action on the C&DW management at the EU level was developed. In addition to these criteria, the action was chosen in such a way that each takes effect at a different circular economy phase of the built environment.